Shower head



NOV. 3, 1931. J FRASER 1,830,694

SHOWER HEAD Filed Sept. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 f /0 0 INVENTOR BY 5 {I A TORNEY Nov. 3, 1931. J. FRASER 1 830,694

sHdwER- HEAD Filed Sept. 24, 192s 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 335. 5 F 1 1 539,

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BY M TJ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 3, 1931 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES FRASER, OF EDGEMOOR, DELAWARE, ASSIGNOR TO BPEAKMAN COMIPANY, 6F

- WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE SHOWER HEAD Application filed September 24, 1928. Serial No. 307,801.

The general object of my present invention is to provide an improved shower head or spray nozzle for use in a shower bath. In any of the shower heads or spray nozzles now in general use in shower baths water is discharged through a multiplicity of small discharge apertures each of which is ordinarily only a few hundredths of an inch in diameter and because of its small diameter is apt to become more or less completely clogged by lime or like deposits from the water discharged, or by sand or other foreign matter carried into the shower head wlth the water. In such a shower head which has been in use for any considerable period of time it is common to find that the discharge of water is impeded and the effectiveness of the shower head minimized by the partial or entire clogging of a considerable number of the discharge orifices. This has led to the more or less regular inspection and cleaning of the shower heads in well managed hotels and analogous installations comprising a sufficient number of shower heads to justify such attention, but even in such installations, shower heads become ineffective between cleaning and inspection periods, and where such attention is not provided, the normal condition of a shower head is one in which many constituting a considerable portion of the total number of discharge orifices are wholly or largely clogge In accordance with the present invention the shower head is formed with discharge openings much fewer in number and each much larger in diameterthan the discharge orifices of ordinary shower heads, and the desired spray effect is securedby mounting a plunger or flow obstructor in each discharge opening to suitably reduce the net discharge orifice area, and to so shape the discharge passage or passages formed between the wall of each discharge opening and the corresponding plunger or obstructor as to secure the desired spray effect. In accordance with the present invention the plungers or flow obstructors are so mounted as to permit of their ready adjustment in the respective discharge openings to dislocate foreign matter tending to clog the shower head dischar e, and to permit such foreign matter to %)e flushed out of the shower head from time to time. Advantageously, the plunger obstructor elements each vary in cross section at points along its length so that by adjusting the obstructors axially in their respective discharge openings it is possible not only to readily dislodge accumulated foreign matter, but to also Vary the character of the discharge passages and thereby secured desired variations in spray fineness and in particular to compensate for variations in'the pressure at which water is supplied to the shower head,

and in'some cases to compensate for the gradual increasing thickness of deposits from the water formed on the discharge orifice walls. The relatively small number of dis charge openings, and the substantial size of the latter which characterize the present-invention, greatly facilitate the thorough cleaning of the shower head when such cleaning becomes necessary.

In the preferred practical mode of carrying out the present invention, the various plungers or obstructors of each shower head are suitably connected to a cross head mounted within the shower head casing or shell and adapted to be adjusted in the latter when necessary or desirable, by any operating handle or screw accessible for ready adjustment from the exterior of the shower head shell.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention are pointed ,out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For

a better understanding of the invention, how-- Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a modified 7 form of shower head;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a third form* of plunger;

Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 5;

In the form of my'invention illustrated in I Figs. 1' and 2, A represents a shower head shell or casing shown as having an inlet opening threaded for attachment to a water supply pipe or nipple B, and generally similar in form to bath shower heads of common type except that the plate or wall portion C through which the discharge takes place is not formed with a large number of small discharge orifices, but with a few discharge openings each of which is of relatively large diameter. It will be understood, of course, that the number and-size ofthe discharge openings C employed may vary widely with conditions ofuse or the ideas of the designer and constructer without departing from the spirit of the present invention, but the orderof the differences between my improved shower head and the ordinary shower heads now in use in respect to the number and size of discharge openings is ind cated by the fact that in a preferred form of the present invention as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 six discharge openings C are employed with each such opening about'five-eighths of an'inch in diameter. The wall member C is rigidly held in position by an annular member D having an upper flange D threaded on the lower end of the shell and a downwardly and outwardly projecting lower flange D An annular gasket D maintains a fluid tight connection between the parts.

Normally received in each opening C is a corresponding fiow obstructor E 'in the form of a plunger, the body portion E of which is shown as cylindrical except for longitudinally extending grooves E at its periphery, and of a diameter slightly less than the opening C? in which it is loosely received, The longitudinally extending grooves E are advantageously tapered so as to merge into the cylindrical body of the plunger at their latter.

Each of the various plungers E of Figs. 1 and 2 is loosely connected at its inner end to .1 tening device G into a hole E in the portion E In the construction shown the diameter of the opening F is greater than the diameter of the head E The cross head is provided with a central hub'portion F formed with a socket receiving a guiding projection G integrally formed on the inner side of the wall member C.

The'cross-head is raised and lowered by a handle H removably mounted on the outer end of a shaft J located in an enlarged threaded portion of a passage A formed in the shell and having a crank disc J secured to the inner end thereof. A crank pin J projects from the disc J across the water passage into a recess A opposite to the recess A A link K pivoted on the crank pin connects the la ter with a pin K journalled in cars F projecting upwardly from the hub F. Packing L and a gland nut M maintain the passage A fluid-tight. As shown in Fig. 1 the front face of the crank disc contacts with a portion of the shell forming the passage A and the crank pin contacts. with the surface of the recess A.

With the shower head constructed as described, the handle is turned to adjust the position of the plungers in the corresponding discharge openings to.the desired operating position which is determined by the'pressure of. the water and the type of spray desired. The various parts are maintained in that posi tion a ainst the pressure of the Water tending to force the cross-head F outwardly by the friction between the elements. The shower head is cleaned whenever desirable by raising and'lowering the plungers in the openings C The reciprocating movement of the plungers in the openings dislodges most, if not all, of the accumulated foreign matter therein. The plungers are then moved to the full open position to permit the dislodged matter to be carried out of the shower head.

The modified operating connections illustrated in Fig. 3 may be used in lieu of the connections heretofore described. In lieu of the pivoted link connection between the cross-head F and the crank pin, I have provided the upper portion of the cross-head with a vertical extension F in which a horizontal, slot F is formed. The connections are so arranged that the crank pin moves horizontally in the slot and the rotary; movement of the shaft J is converted into a vertical movement of the cross-head F and plungers The shower head construction illustrated in Fig. 4 differs from that shown in Figs. 1

and 2 in that the operating handle and connections to the cross-head are omitted and by radial arms T the latter is moved vertically on a removable guide post N mounted on the wall plate.

The actuating means comprises a threaded bolt 0 vertically mounted in an opening 0 at the center of the wall member C. The bolt 0 is prevented from moving vertically by a collar 0 secured thereon and adapted to rotate in a recess N formed in the bottom of the guide post. A in O mounted in the upper threaded end 0 the bolt 0 limits the vertical movement of the cross-head F. The threaded bolt is rotated by inserting a screw driver or similar tool in a kerf 0 formed in the lower end of the bolt and accessible from below the shower head. This construction is particularly advantageous in installations where it is highly important that the plungers be maintained in a fixed position with respect to the.wall plate openings or where it is desired to prevent any possible tampering with the operating provisions.

In Figs. 5 and 6 I have illustrated another form of plunger Q having an upper portion Q hexangular in cross-section and a lower portion Q circular in cross section with its surface concavely curved. The bottom portion Q has the same diameteras the corresponding discharge opening. With this arrangement of the surfaces the plunger may be moved vertically a certain distance without changing the effective discharge f area. After this point has been reached the discharge area increases and then decreases until the fully closed position is reached when the lower portion of the plunger is positioned in the opening.

In Figs. 7 and 8 other types of flow obstructors are shown having difi'erent operating characteristics. The construction shown in Fig. 7 dilfers from that of Fig. 5 in that the lower portion R of the plunger body R is tapered downwardly with a convex curvature. In Fig. 8 the plunger body S is frustoconical with a short section S at the bottom of a constant diameter, preferably that of the plate opening.

- In the modification illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, the flow obstructors are in the form of a pair of concentric vertically movable spray rings T and T, connected to each 0 her and bolts T The arms T are integrally connected at their inner ends to a central hub T mounted on the guide post C. Each of the spray rings has grooves T formed in its sides and tapering downwardly to a point adjacent the bottom of the rings. The wall member V is formed with annular openings V and V for the spray rings and the sections are connected by integral cross-members V bridging the spray rings and arranged to permit the spray rings to be moved vertically in the openings V and V to their closed position. The grooves T" of Figs. 8, 9 and 10 and the similar grooves E of Figs. 1, 2 and 4 are narrow in the sense that the maximum efi'ective width of each such groove is equal to a small fraction only of the circumference of the portion of the plunger or flow obstructing device in which the grooves are formed. In consequence the spray stream discharged through each such groove is a comparatively slender or fine stream. Such narrow grooves differ substantially in form and in their spray stream defining action from the relatively Wide flow spaces between longitudinal guide ribs formed'upon a spray regulating plunger axially adjustable in a spray nozzle sleeve or opening such as has been employed in certain prior spray devices not intended, used or adapted for use as shower bath spray heads. One instance of above mentioned prior spray devices is disclosed in the patent to Valerius No. 1,561,809, granted November 17, 1925.

While in accordance of the statutes, I have illustrated and described the best forms of embodiment of my invention now known to me, it will be appar ent to those skilled in the art that changes maybe made in the form of the device disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims and that in some cases certain features of my invention may be used to advan tage without a corresponding use of other eatures.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A shower head comprising a shell having a relatively small number of discharge openings of relatively large cross sectional area formed in onewall thereof and distributed about the axis of a conical space through which the water passes from said openings in a multiplicity of fine jets distributed across said space, a flow obstructing member extending through each of said openings and tapering in cross sectional area along its length and means for moving said flow obstructing members axially of said opening.

2. A shower head comprising a shell having one or more discharge openings of relatively large cross sectional area formed in one wall thereof, a flow obstructing member positioned in each of said openings and hav- :1 ng narrow tapered grooves in the sides thereof, said grooves cooperating with the adjacent wall surfaces to form a plurality of discharge orifices, and means for axially moving each such flow obstructing member in the corresponding opening. 3. A shower head comprising a shell having a relatively small number of discharge openings of relatively large diameter formed in one wall thereof and distributed about the axis of a conical space through which the water passes from said openings in a multiplicity of fine jets distributed across said space, a flow obstructing member arranged with the provisions in each of said openings and havin a portion, the cross sectional area of whic is less than the area of the corresponding opening and a second portion, the cross sectional area of which is approximately the same as the cross sectional area of the corresponding openin and greater than the cross sectional area 0 said first mentioned portion, and means for varying the position of said flow obstructing members relative to said openmgs.

4. A shower head comprising a shell having a relatively small number of discharge openings of relatively large diameter in one wall thereof, a flow obstructing member arranged in each of said openings and having a portion, the cross-sectional area of which is less than the area of the corresponding opening and a second portion, the cross sectional area of which is approximately the same as the area of said opening and greater than the area of said first mentioned portion, and means for moving said flow obstructing members relatively to said openings, said means comprising a cross head to which said members are loosely connected and manually operated means for moving said cross head vertically, and means in said shell for guiding the vertical movements of said cross head.

5. A shower head comprising a shell having a wall portion formed with a relatively small number of discharge openings of relatively large cross sectional area distributed about the axis of said wall portion, a movable cross head within the shell and guiding provisions therefor coaxial with said axis, and plungers loosely connected to said cross head and'each extending through a corresponding one of said orifices, and each of said plungers having its cross section tapered in the direction of its length.

6. A shower bath spray head comprising in combination a shell formed with a water outlet opening, a flow obstructing device extending into and adjustable longitudinally of said opening and formed with a multiplicity of narrow grooves extending longitudinally of said opening and varying in cross section in the direction of their lengths and uniting with the wall of said outlet opening to form flow channels, the aggregate cross sectional area of which is varied by the longitudinal adjustment of said device in said outlet opening, and means for adjusting said device longitudinally of said opening.

7. A shower bath spray head comprising in combination a shell formed with a water outlet opening, a flow obstructing device extending into, and adjustable longitudinally of said opening and formed with a multiplicity of narrow grooves extending longitudinally of said opening and diminishing in width and depth as their outer ends are approached and uniting with the wall of said outlet opening to form flow channels, the aggregate cross sectional area of which is varied by the longitudinal adjustment of said device, and means for adjusting said device longitudinally of said opening.

8. A shower bath spray comprising in combination a shell formed with a circular water outlet opening, a flow obstructing device of generally circular outline extending into said opening from the outer end thereof and adjustable longitudinally thereof between inner and outer limits and formed with a-multiplicity of narrow longitudinally extending grooves in the portion of 1ts periphery which is at the inner side of the outer end of said opening when said device is at the inner limit of its adjustment, said grooves being tapered in depth to merge into the peripheral surface of said device at their outer ends, and means for adjusting said device longitudinally of said opening to thereby vary the volume and intensity of the spray streams flowing through said grooves.

9. A shower bath spray head comprising in combination a shell formed with a water inlet and with a circular water outlet opening, a flow obstructing device of generally circular outline extending into and adjustable longitudinally of said outlet opening and formed with a multiplicity of narrow peripheral grooves extending longitudinally of said outlet opening and varying in cross-section in the direction of their lengths and uniting with the wall of said outlet opening to form flow channels, the aggregate cross sectional area of which may be varied by longitudinal adjustment of said device in said outlet opening, the aggregate width of said grooves in their outer end portions being equal to a small fraction only of the circumference of said device, and means for adjusting said device longitudinally of said outlet openin 10. a shell formed with an inlet opening and with a circular outlet opening, a flow obstructing member extending into said outlet opening and adjustable longitudinally thereof and formed with a multiplicity of longitudinally extending narrow peripheral grooves, said shell and member having cooperating guide surfaces within said shell extending longitudinally of said outlet opening, and a crank shaft extending transversely to the axis of said outlet opening through, and revolubly mounted in the wall of said shell and provided internally of the latter with a crank pin in operative engagement with said member whereby the rotation of said shaft effects longitudinal adjustments of said member in said outlet opening.

11. A shower bath spray head comprising a bell-shaped shell with an inlet opening at its smaller end and a circular outlet opening at its larger end substantially larger-in dishower bath spray head comprisin ameter than saidinlet opening, a flow bstructing member of enerally circular outline extending into an adjustable longitudinally of said outlet opening and formed with a multiplicity of longitudinally extending narrow peripheral grooves, each varying in cross-sectionin the direction of its length, said shell and member having cooperating guide surfaces within said shell extending longitudinally of said outlet opening, a crank shaft extending through and revolubly mounted in the side wall of said shell and provided internally of the latter with a crank pin in operative engagement with said member whereby the rotation of said shaft efl'ects' longitudinal adjustments of said member in said outlet opening.

12. A shower bath spray head comprising in combination a shell formed with an annular water outlet opening, an annular flow obstructing device extending into and adjustable longitudinally of said opening and formed with a multiplicity of narrowelongated grooves in its periphery and in its concave side which extend longitudinally of said opening and vary in cross section in the direction of their lengths and unite with the convex and concave portions of the wall of said outlet opening to form flow channels, the aggregate cross sectional area of which is varied by the longitudinal adjustment of said device in said outlet opening, and means for adjusting said device longitudinallyof said opening.

13. A shower bath spray head comprising in combination a shell formed with a water inlet opening and with a circular water outlet opening substantially larger in cross section than said inlet opening, a-fiow obstructing device of generally circular outline extending into and adjustable longitudinally of said outlet opening and formed with a multiplicity of narrow elongated peripheral grooves extending longitudinally of said outlet opening and varying in cross section in the direction of their lengths and uniting with the concave wall of said outlet opening to form flow channels, the aggregate cross sectional area of which is varied by the longitudinal adjustment of said device 'in said outlet opening, and means for adjusting said" devicelongitudinally of said outlet opening. Signed at Wilmington in the county of New Castle and State of belaware, this 19th day of September A. D. 1928.

JAMES FRASER. 

